title: Central nervous system activity of Illicium verum fruit extracts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To research the acute toxicity of Illicium verum (I. verum) fruit extracts and its action on central nervous system.
  
  
  METHODS
  The TLC and HPTLC techniques were used as fingerprints to determine the chemical components present in I. verum. Male albino rats and mice were utilized for study. The powdered material was successively extracted with n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol using a Soxhlet extractor. Acute toxicity studies were performed as per OECD guidelines. The CNS activity was evaluated on parameters of general behavior, sleeping pattern, locomotor activity, anxiety and myocoordination activity. The animals were trained for seven days prior to experiments and the divided into five groups with six animals in each. The drug was administered by intraperitoneal route according to body weight. The dosing was done as prescribed in each protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Toxicity studies reported 2 000 mg/kg as toxicological dose and 1/10 of the same dose was taken as therapeutic dose Intraperitoneal injection of all extracts at dose of 200 mg prolonged phenobarbitone induced sleeping time, produced alteration in general behavior pattern, reduced locomotor activity and produced anxiolytic effects but the extracts do not significantly alter muscles coordination activity. The three extracts of I. verum at the dose of 200 mg, methanol extract was found to produce more prominent effects, then hexane and ethylacetate extracts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The observation suggested that the extracts of I. verum possess potent CNS depressant action and anxiolytic effect without interfering with motor coordination.
authors.affiliation: Phytochemistry and Pharmacognosy Division, VNS Institute of Pharmacy, Neelbud, BHOPAL, (M.P.), India.
authors.forename: Divya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chouksey
authors.forename: Neeraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Upmanyu
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Pawar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005638:Fruit; D029523:Illicium / Q000737:chemistry; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D012997:Solvents
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D028321:Plant Preparations; D012997:Solvents
keywords: Anxiolytic; CNS depressant; HPTLC; Illicium verum; TLC